Love for Russia and the UZP values recommended Čović to Sattler as the leader of BiH's European path

By Rasim Belko

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Dragan Čović is one of the strongest proponents and champions of the European integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina, stated the head of the EU Delegation Johann Sattler today to the cameras, after a meeting with Dragan Čović, the leader of HDZ.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Sattler and Čović in Mostar wore protective equipment, hiding behind masks of interest, lies, and anti-state, or rather anti-Bosnian and Herzegovinian policies.

The actions of European Union diplomats in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been a charade of foolishness and lies for over a decade, behind which various levels of interest are hidden.

The question arises as to what criteria European officials use to send representatives to Bosnia and Herzegovina. What is undeniably clear is that these are incapable cadres, because these cadres have not brought Bosnia and Herzegovina even a millimeter closer to the Union.

And how could they, when they claim that Dragan Čović is the greatest driver of BiH's European path. However, the whole story about Čović as the leader of BiH's integration began with Peter Sorensen, continued with Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, and is clearly still ongoing with Sattler.

Private interests of bad diplomats or higher interests of European bureaucrats? What is the reason for such behavior from those who are expected to democratize, first and foremost, our political scene, but also to fully promote our European path.

In the OHR we have a high representative, in the EU Delegation a special representative, and in the country, a mess for which they are also largely responsible.

Without a vision for solving the tasks entrusted to them, with the inevitable saluting of responsible BiH politicians, European representatives seemed lost and powerless to do anything. However, what was their success was keeping Dragan Čović on the political scene.

Peter Sorensen pretended to seek a solution to the “Sejdić-Finci” issue, but in reality, through that game, he tried to push HDZ into the BiH Constitution, in a way that would permanently secure them a place in the Presidency of BiH.

After the failure, he was transferred to another position before his term expired.

“Ambassador Wigemark was probably a bit uncomfortable leaving behind chaos and a sea of unfinished business, which his predecessor Peter Sorensen had pushed into his arms. Does anyone still remember that Danish diplomat who got completely lost in the wilderness of Bosnian reality, promoting false reformers and then fled to Geneva?” Ranko Mavrak asked in a column for infomedia Balkan in August last year.

The sequence of events from these two sentences by Mavrak perhaps best describes the method and effectiveness of the EU's special representatives.

 

If we remember Sorensen, among other things, for the attempt to repackage the Constitution for the benefit of HDZ and Dragan Čović, Lars-Gunnar Wigemark had a slightly longer list for his memoirs.

He advocated for the cessation of the use of OHR's Bonn powers, arguing that they cannot replace courts in this country and that the rule of law must be ensured, and that this is a fundamental issue.

Furthermore, Wigemark did not shy away from lobbying for the political interests of Dragan Čović and Milorad Dodik, while simultaneously stating that Bosnia and Herzegovina will not join the EU until an agreement is reached within the country.

Perhaps what he is most remembered for is the Excise Law, which imposed new burdens on the citizens of this country and presented politicians with the challenge of where and how to spend the money.

Wigemark left, Sattler arrived, the policy has not changed.

The current head of the EU Delegation, Johann Sattler, has simply continued where his predecessors left off. Countless meetings without effect, stories and fairy tales…

Although all European officials with a mandate in Bosnia and Herzegovina talk about this country not joining the Union until domestic leaders take responsibility, every time an agreement is lacking, and it goes against the EU's wishes, they make an effort to ensure that domestic parties reach an agreement among themselves.

This was the case with excise taxes, and recently with the IMF arrangement for BiH. SDA, HDZ, and SNSD could not agree. The failure of the arrangement was becoming increasingly likely, and then Sattler appeared and organized a tribal meeting of Bakir Izetbegović, Dragan Čović, and Milorad Dodik.

And lo and behold, they agreed. And it's the same every time. Every time, European diplomacy in BiH nullifies the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina to secure votes for themselves and those close to them. Izetbegović, Dodik, and Čović are merely decorative figures of these and similar policies.

Perhaps that is why Sattler considers Čović a spearhead of BiH's European path. Yes, the Dragan Čović who, against all European Union rules, supports and defends war criminals and their crimes.

The Čović who destroyed everything he could in Herzegovina.

And finally, the Čović who plays to Russia's tune with Dodik and Aleksandar Vučić. Not a recent development. This has been going on for a long time.

“The role of the Russian Federation is irreplaceable and fundamental: it balances, creates a balance of power in the world, and cannot be avoided in resolving any international problem. At the same time, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), which is privileged to have a partner in the Russian Federation, wants to expand comprehensive cooperation with Moscow, including strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation,” Čović told “Rossiyskaya Gazeta” after his visit to Russia.

Either Brussels has changed its stance towards Russia, and Sattler forgot to inform us, or there is a new game of interests at play by just one of the many European cadres who come to teach us European values, even though these values are older in our country than in Europe.

What is Sattler's motive for visiting Čović? Have Čović's pro-Russian and UZP values recommended him to Sattler as the leader of BiH's European path?

If Čović's values are European for Sattler, then it would be best for the European diplomatic dandies to pack up and leave this country and let us agree among ourselves.